John C. Barry, Son, Brother, Husband, Father, and Former President of Oak Creek Valley Bank/Jones Bank – Valparaiso.

John Charles Barry of Valparaiso, Nebraska entered into eternal life on, Saturday, April 8, 2023. Barry is the former President/CEO of Oak Creek Valley Bank/Jones Bank of Valparaiso and a treasured member of multiple boards, committees, and organizations in Valparaiso and Saunders County.

John’s Catholic faith and devotion, as well as love of family, guided his path through a long and wonderful life. Despite a cardiac scare and quadruple bypass 2 years ago, in the last week, John was out mowing the farm, helping his wife, Beverly, water Spring flowers and checking in on taxes and any outstanding bank issues.

Born on February 17, 1942 in Lincoln, NE. John grew up on the family farm between Agnew and Valparaiso and experienced the value and complexities of the agricultural economy. He attended Valparaiso Elementary School and High School. He attended one year of college at Benedictine College in Atchison, KS.

After one year of college, John understood the financial burden he was placing on his family with his college tuition and accepted an offer to be an entry-level bookkeeper/teller in October 1960 at Oak Creek Valley Bank (OCVB). In 1963, he was asked to fill the open manager position at the bank. During the rural bank crisis of the 1980s, local Valparaiso OCVB leadership was asked to buy shares of the bank, which they did and held until it was purchased by Jones Bank in 2019. Over the past 4 decades, John served as OCVB Executive Vice President, President, and Chief Executive Officer. He led all aspects of the bank operations but was happiest helping prepare tax returns and ensuring the bank supported all its patrons and the community. He rarely, if ever missed, a livestock sale of the county fair ribbon winners. He semi-retired as CEO of OCVB but continued in an advisory role and board member of Jones Bank. He was a respected member of the banking community for 62 years. From 1967 until 2016, John held a seat on the Saunders County Planning and Zoning Commission. He believed that as a member of the community, he was obliged to contribute to its development. He was a long-time member on the Bishop Neumann Catholic Foundation which helped support the school and build an endowment fund. He also participated in the fundraising for a new church building of Saints Mary and Joseph Parish where he was a former acolyte. In 2011, John was honored for his 50 years of service of service by the Nebraska Bankers Association. John was a member of the volunteer Fire Department in Valparaiso for 27 years. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus Council #8625. He and Beverly have donated to countless domestic and international organizations to improve the lives of those most impoverished in our society.

Over his years as a father, John rarely missed a game, concert or play one of his daughters was in. He and Beverly also understood the importance of advanced education and supported all their daughters pursuing Bachelor’s, Masters’, and Doctoral degrees. He loved his wife, daughters and grandchildren deeply and his love will be held. His laughter and wit will be missed at future family gatherings.

John is survived by his beloved wife of 59 years, Beverly (Waiss) Barry; daughter Barbara Fraser, and husband, Theodore, of Lincoln, NE, plus granddaughters, Emma and Brooke; daughter Donna Barry and husband, Daniel Leist, of Medford, MA; daughter Linda Smith and husband, Craig, of Leawood, KS, plus granddaughters Abigail, Alexis and Lauren; and daughter Denise Corrigan, and husband, Patrick, of Westfield, MA, plus grandchildren, Jack (his namesake), Felix and Stella. He is also survived by his siblings and their spouses and children and grandchildren: JoAnn and Gerald Kratochvil of Clarkson, NE and David and Roseletta Barry of Valparaiso, NE, and sister-in-law, Betty Barry of Omaha.

He was predeceased by his parents, Joseph and Lucy Barry, brothers Michael and Patrick, and Patrick’s wife, Rosalie. John remained a favorite uncle and grand-uncle to all his siblings’ children and grand-children.